Nigeria: With thousands in urgent need, UN health agency scales up emergency response
Aug 23, 2016, at 01:10 pm
New York, Aug 23 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is ramping up its response in north-eastern Nigeria, where initial assessments have revealed urgent health problems among populations in areas formerly held by Boko Haram insurgents.
As ICC trial opens, Malian extremist admits guilt to destroying historic sites in Timbuktu
Aug 23, 2016, at 01:09 pm
New York, Aug 23 (Just Earth News): An alleged Malian Islamist accused of destroying historical and religious monuments in the fabled city of Timbuktu pleaded guilty in the first-ever international war crimes trial focusing on destruction of cultural heritage, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on the opening day of the landmark case, which was welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
‘Pressure’ on Palestinian households to move raises risk of forcible transfers – UN official
Aug 23, 2016, at 04:58 am
New York, Aug 22 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official has cautioned that many Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank are facing a heightened risk of forcible transfer Bedouins as there has been a recent surge in the number of demolitions in the area.
UN health agency’s African member States adopt new malaria framework
Aug 23, 2016, at 04:56 am
New York, Aug 22 (Just Earth News): With Africa still accounting for more than 90 per cent of global malaria deaths in 2015, the United Nations health agency’s member States in the region have adopted a new framework on implementing a strategy towards a malaria-free continent.
More than three million displaced in Yemen – joint UN agency report
Aug 23, 2016, at 04:54 am
New York, Aug 22 (Just Earth News): A joint report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has found that the conflict in Yemen has resulted in the displacement of some 3,154,572 people, of which 2,205,102 remain displaced across the country and some 949,470 have attempted to return home.
Turkey: UN chief condemns terrorist attack on wedding party that kills atleast 50 people
Aug 22, 2016, at 12:45 pm
New York, Aug 22 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned yesterday's terrorist attack on a wedding party in the Turkish city of Gaziantep – an act that was reportedly carried out by a suicide bomber and killed at least 50 people and wounded dozens of others.
Aug 22, 2016, at 01:53 am
Istanbul, Aug 21 (IBNS): Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan has said the suicide bombing in the country, which left at least 51 people dead,was likely carried out by militant group ISIS.
Camp Speicher massacre: Iraq executes 36
Aug 21, 2016, at 11:43 pm
Baghdad, Aug 21 (IBNS): Iraq authorities have executed 36 men who are convicted over the killing of nearly 1,700 military recruits at a former US base in 2014, media reports said.
Brother of Syrian boy in haunting image dies of injuries
Aug 21, 2016, at 04:27 pm
Beirut, Aug 21 (IBNS): The elder brother of the 5-year-old Syrian boy rescued from the rubble after an airstrike, whose haunting image went viral on social media, died from wounds inflicted during the severe attack, media reports said on Sunday.
Turkey: 30 killed, 94 injured in bomb attack at wedding party in Gaziantep
Aug 21, 2016, at 03:39 pm
Ankara, Aug 21 (IBNS): At least 30 people were killed and about 94 injured as a bomb attack occurred targeting an outdoor wedding party in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, media reports said on Sunday.
ICE UN official 'deeply concerned' about health of detained Palestinian hunger striker
Aug 21, 2016, at 12:49 pm
New York, Aug 21 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official on Saturday expressed a deep concern about the deteriorating health of a Palestinian detainee on hunger strike for more than two months in protest of his detention after completing a 14.5-year prison sentence.
What the hell do you have to lose, Trump asks African-American voters
Aug 20, 2016, at 06:42 pm
Michigan, Aug 20 (IBNS): Trying to stir up the African American voters over their its general economic standing, US Presidential candidate Donald Trump has asked them what's left for them to lose, reports said.
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights arm on Friday expressed concern about the mounting constraints on the democratic space in Thailand – calling for a prompt return to civilian rule.
Photo of boy pulled from rubble reminder of 'unimaginable horrors' Syrian children face – UNICEF
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:29 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): The heart breaking photograph of Omran Daqneesh, the little boy sitting alone in an ambulance with his face and body covered in blood and dirt after being pulled from a destroyed building has reminded the world, yet again, of the unimaginable horrors that Syrian children face every day, a spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
Honduras: Killing of rights defenders highlight perils they face, says UN rights office
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:28 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): With at least eight human rights defenders killed in Honduras this year, two United Nations and international rights experts on Friday said the country is one of the most hostile and dangerous for rights defenders and urged the Government to take urgent steps to ensure their protection.
UN rights office urges Ethiopia to ensure independent probe of reported violations in Oromia region
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): Voicing concern over serious human rights violations in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia earlier this month, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday urged the Government to ensure access for independent observers to affected areas and to work towards opening up political and democratic reform.
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:24 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): Earlier on Friday, the spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about how the UN system is actively working to develop a package that would provide material assistance and support to those Haitians most directly affected by the outbreak of cholera in the Caribbean nation.
Security Council expresses ‘regret’ over postponed electoral process in Somalia
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:19 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed regret over a postponed timeline for this year’s parliamentary and presidential elections in Somalia, calling on all stakeholders to follow the revised 2016 electoral calendar “without further delay.â€
Citing UN’s moral responsibility, Ban pledges support to Haiti in overcoming cholera epidemic
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): Noting that a United States federal appeals court has upheld the United Nations’ immunity from a damage claim filed on behalf cholera victims in Haiti, the Organization on Friday said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deeply regrets the “terrible suffering†of the Haitian people and that the UN has a moral responsibility to the support the victims and the country in overcoming the epidemic.
UN experts press Turkey to adhere to human rights obligations despite state of emergency
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:16 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): United Nations human rights experts on Friday urged Turkey to uphold its obligations under international human rights law despite the attempted mid-July coup and during the subsequent state of emergency.
'Alarming' disparity in broadband connectivity within Asia-Pacific, UN regional study finds
Aug 20, 2016, at 01:13 pm
New York, Aug 20 (Just Earth News): New findings by the economic and social development arm of the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific have revealed that nearly 75 per cent of the region's broadband capabilities and access are concentrated in countries in East and North-East Asia while the Pacific subregion accounts for a mere 1.93 per cent.
Nigeria’s military gains against Boko Haram uncover vast humanitarian needs – UN
Aug 20, 2016, at 04:12 am
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that it is increasingly alarmed at the unfolding situation in north-east Nigeria where the advancing military campaign against Boko Haram has exposed “catastrophic†levels of suffering among a population outside humanitarian reach over months or years.
'We cannot and will not leave anyone behind,' says UN chief on World Humanitarian Day
Aug 20, 2016, at 04:07 am
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): With a record 130 million people worldwide now dependent on humanitarian assistance, Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon stressed that though solutions to the crises that plunged these people into such desperate hardship are neither simple nor quick, “there are things we can all do – on Friday, and every day. We can show compassion, we can raise our voices against injustice, and we can work for change.â€
South Sudan: Hundreds of children recruited into armed groups, reports UNICEF
Aug 20, 2016, at 04:03 am
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Reporting that 650 children have been recruited into armed groups in South Sudan since January, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNCEF) called on Friday for an immediate end to recruitment and an unconditional release of all children by armed actors.
US Amabssador Richard R. Verma condoles spiritual leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj's death
Aug 20, 2016, at 12:26 am
Washington, Aug 19 (IBNS): US Amabssador Richard R. Verma on Friday condoled the passing away of Indian spiritual leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Terrorism: Twitter blocks additional 235,000 accounts
Aug 19, 2016, at 03:33 pm
New York, Aug 19 (IBNS): Micro-blogging site Twitter, which is used by celebrities, politicians and common man across the globe to share their ideas and opinions on numerous issues, on Friday said it has suspended additional 235,000 accounts for violating its policies related to promotion of terrorism in the last six months.
'We have to be the hope' for people most in need, says top UN humanitarian official
Aug 19, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Praising the spirit and drive of relief workers, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, has said the global humanitarian community is determined to not let political disagreements, conflicts or natural disasters get in the way of their ability to help the people who are most in need.
Syria: Citing lack of action, UN envoy cuts short humanitarian taskforce meeting
Aug 19, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Syria abruptly suspended the regular international humanitarian taskforce meeting in Geneva on Thursday shortly after it started, saying it made “no sense†to continue unless there is a pause in the fighting so aid convoys could reach besieged areas of the war-ravaged country.
UN rights experts urge Philippines to end wave of extrajudicial killings amid major drug crackdown
Aug 19, 2016, at 01:22 pm
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Amid a recent massive anti-crime and anti-drug crackdown in the Philippines that has claimed the lives of more than 850 suspected criminals, two United Nations human rights experts on Thursday urged the Government to end the wave of extrajudicial executions and killings, stressing that drug charges should be “judged in a court of law, not by gunmen on the streets.â€
Long-term resettlement solutions needed for refugees on Manus Island – UNICEF Australia
Aug 19, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Amid news of an agreement to close the Australian immigration detention centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday underscored the importance of finding permanent and sustainable resettlement solutions that address the needs of the refugees.